Ladder attachment for fire hose



Sept. 3, 1929. J. B. CALLAGHAN ET AL LADDER ATTACHMENT FOR FIRE HOSE n Filed March 7, 1927 ATTORNEY INVENTORS 5 BY 1;, "7

Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. CALLAGEAN AND WILLIAM H. MONAGHAN, F YITTSBUBGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LADDER ATTACHMENT son FIRE HOSE.

Application filed March 7, 1927. Serial No. 173,845.

Our invention relates to improvements in hose attachments and while primarily intended for securing the end portion of a fire hose to a fire ladder to prevent the whipping or lashing of the hose end portion on the passage of water under pressure therethrough, it will be obvious that the device may be employed for any other purpose wherein it is found to be applicable.

Important objects of the invention, are to provide a hose attachment of the character described which will greatly facilitate the fighting of fires, which may be quickly mounted to a fire ladder or other-suitable support 1 for securing the end portion of the fire hose against movement, which is particularly adaptable for directing a stream of water to basements and cellars, which embodies adjustable elements permitting of its connection to any type of ladders, which may be operated to direct the streamof water, and which may be conveniently connected in position or removed therefrom.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the type stated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and efiicient in its use, compact, andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the inventionresides in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed,'it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment ofthe invention disclosed can be made within the scope of the claims hereunto appended without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of 40 reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an attachment constructed in accordance with the invention, disposed in the upwardly extending position and connected with a ladder, portions of the latter being broken away.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the device disposed in the downwardly extending posi-' tion.

Figure 3 is an enlar ed sectional view of the device on line IIII I, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view on'line IVIV, Figure 2. a

Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of the cross bar jaws. l

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 denotes a ladder of the common construction comprising a pair of long parallel disposed side members 2 which are joined together by regularly spaced cross pieces or rungs 3 in the usual manner.

Our improved ladder attachment for fire hose consists of an elongated, rigid, metallic, tubular body portion or pipe 4:, which has its inner end detachably connected to the end of the fire hose 5 by a suitable coupling 6. The outer end of the pipe 4 carries a fixed elbow fitting 7 which is preferably disposed forwardly at an angle of approximately fortyfive degrees.

A comparatively short, flexible nozzle hose 8 is detachably connected to the elbow fitting 7 by a suitable coupling 9. The free end of I the nozzle hose 8 is provided with a nozzle connector 8, which carries a detachable nozzle 10. The latter may be of any type for throwing, spraying or otherwise diffusing the water to best meet conditions found in practice. I

The pipe 4 is provided with a pair of supporting cross-bars, respectively indicated at 11 and 12. The cross-bars-ll and 12 are connected to the pipe 4, centrally of their lengths, and are disposed at right angles with respect to the pipe 4 and on the rear side of the latter.

The cross-bar 11 is rigidly fixed to the outer end of the pipe 4. Each end of the cross-bar 11 is provided with a fixed, substantially U- shaped jaw 13, which is open at its rear end and disposed rearwardly at right angles rela;

tively to cross-bar 11 and to the pipe 4.

any other suitable manner. The liners 17 may be constructed from leather or from any other suitable material having equivalent cushioning properties. The cushioning liners 17 are provided for preventing damage to the ladder rungs 2 due to the vibration of the attachment on the passage of water therethrough in practice.

Each of the jaws 13, of the cross-bar 11, is formed with a pair of aligned apertures 19, for the reception of a locking key 20. The keys 20 are swivelly connected to flexible members 21, which are connected to the crossbar 11 to prevent the possible loss of the keys 20. The latter are provided for securing the jaws 13 to the associated ladder rung.

The lengths of the cross-bars 11 and 12 are preferably commensurate to the lengths of the ladder rungs 3, whereby, when the crossbars 11 and 12 are connected to the latter, the jaws 13 and 16 thereof will be positioned contiguous to the side members 2, of the ladder 1, and prevent lateral movement of the device b on the ladder rungs 3.

A ring 22 is rotatably mounted on the nozzle connector 8 and is formed with an eye loop 23. A. rein 24, provided with a snap hook 25 connecting with the eye loop 23, is provided for manipulation by the fireman for directing the water to required locations. Such directing is permitted due to the flexibility of the nozzle hose 8.

In Figure 1, of the drawing, the device is illustrated connected to a vertically positioned ladder and is disposed to extend upwardly. When, utilizing the device inposition the ladder is preferably disposed at some distance from the fire. The jaws 13 of the outer cross-bar 11 engage the ladder rung best suited to give the height required to bestmeet conditions. The inner cross-bar 12, by its connection with the collar 15, may be adjusted on .the latter to position the jaws 13 thereof downwardly, and on the'pipe 4 to allow the'jaws 16 thereof to engage any ladder rung that is capable of being reached thereby.

- The engagement of the outer cross-bar 11 with the ladder, as above stated, will serve to secure the outer end of the pipe 4:, while the engagement of .the cross-bar 12 will secure the inner end thereof.

In Figure 2, of the drawing, the device is illustrated connected to a ladderand dis posed to extend downwardly. v This arrangement is particularly adaptable when utilizing the device for reaching fires in basements and cellars. The connection of the device to the ladder is identical to that herein described relative to the upward disposition thereof, except that it is necessary to reverse the inner cross-bar 12 by swinging the latter around on its swivelled connection 1 1 with the associated collar 15 to dispose the jaws 16 thereof to extend downwardly to effect their engagement with the ladder rung.

It will here be noted, that while our improved device is primarily intended to be quickly and conveniently fi xed in position to a fire ladder as herein illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the device may be readily attached to any suitable support adaptable thereto, namely a collapsible stand may be provided therefor, or the device may be attached in position to any part of the fire fighting apparatus arranged to accommodate its connection therewith.

What we claim is: i 1. A detachable attachment for fire hose comprisinga tubular member having means at its ends for connection to a hose line and a nozzle, a pair of cross bars carried cen trally thereof by said member at its inner side, and combined coupling and supporting means at the ends of said cross bars for seating against a pair of'ladder rungs, the means at the ends of one bar being disposed at right angles to the means: at the ends of the other 2. A detachable attachment for fire hose comprising a tubular member having means at its ends for connection to a hose line and a nozzle, a pair of cross bars carried centrally thereof by said member at its inner side, combined coupling and supporting means at the ends of said cross bars for seating against a pair of ladder rungs, the means at the ends of one bar being disposed at right angles to the means at the ends of the other bar, one of said bars being permanently fixed to said element and the other adjustable lengthwise of the latter, and means for retaining the jaws of one of said pair of cross bars in set position.

3. A detachable'attachment for fire hose comprising a tubular member having means at its ends for connection to a hose line and a nozzle, a'pair of cross bars carried centrally thereof by said member at its inner side, a jaw member at each end of a cross bar for connection to a ladder rung for maintaining said element stationary, and cush ioning means on the inner face of each jaw, the jaws on one cross bar disposed at right angles to the jaws on the other cross bar.

4. A detachable attachment for fire hose comprising a tubular member having means at its ends for connection to a hose line and a nozzle, a pair of cross bars carriedcentrally thereof by said member at its inner side, a jaw member at each end of a cross bar for connection to a ladder rung for mainof the latter, and means for retaining the taining said element stationary, cushioning jaws of one of said pair of cross bars 1n set means on the inner face of each jaw, the jaws position. 10 on one cross bar disposed at right angles to In testimony whereof We aflix our signa- 5 the jaws on the other cross bar, one of said tures.

bars permanently fixed to said element and JOHN B. CALLAGHAN. the other of said bars adjustable lengthwise WILLIAM H. MONAGHAN. 

